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PARKS, RECREATION AND CONSERVATION
PO Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601-1110
(813) 744-5871
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Donna Cameron Cepeda
Harry Cohen
Ken Hagan
Pat Kemp
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Myers
Michael Owen
Joshua Wostal
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Bonnie M. Wise
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Christine M. Beck
COUNTY INTERNAL AUDITOR
Peggy Caskey

ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Dexter L. Barge


Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Advisory Board
Thursday 04-04-2024, 12:00 PM Meeting Minutes
Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. All People’s Community Park and Life Center


I. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman called meeting to order at 12:01 PM

a) A welcome to everyone
b) A thank you to Friends of the County Parks and Recreation for providing lunch
today.

II. PUBLIC COMMENTS -
N/A

III. PRESENTATIONS

a) ELAPP Land Acquisition - Monthly Update


Board Approved Contracts:
 TC Ventures (Triple Creek) – Working on final survey for closing on 110 acres in
April/May.

Active Negotiations:
Fee Acquisitions
 Mattaniah (Alafia North Prong) – Appraisals for 623-acre property received by
County on 2/20/2024. SWFWMD would like to partner (50/50) with the County on
the acquisition. SWFWMD is currently reviewing the County’s appraisals. Upon
approval by SWFWMD, an offer will be provided to the owner.
 HSH Trust (Cypress Creek) – Awaiting response from bankruptcy counsel on status
of the 10-acre property in the bankruptcy proceeding.


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 EMH (Balm Scrub Preserve Addition) – Appraisal for 10-acre property finalized on
02/14/2024. Offer provided. Awaiting final response from owner.

Conservation Easements
 Tew (Lower Green Swamp Addition) – Offer provided on 3/27/24. Response from
owner expected by the end of April.
 Parker/Baker/Varnum/Davis (Alafia South Prong) – Discussions ongoing.
Preliminary CEs are being drafted for review. Acreage TBD.

Possible Donations

 Giunta (Cypress Creek) – Ongoing discussions with seller and Natural Resources for
donation of up to 324 acres.
 Double Branch Bay – Project on hold until owner initiates discussions with county.

Other
 Mosaic (N/A) – Working on LOI with CAO and Mosaic (donation and fee acquisition
totaling 4,300 acres).

b) Hillsborough Greenways Master Plan – Update – Chris Fellerhoff with the
County’s Public Works Department provided a PowerPoint presentation
describing the development of the Master Plan and its major components. This
presentation to the Parks Advisory Board is required for compliance with the
bylaws of the Hillsborough Greenways Committee and is provided for
informational purposes only. A link to the presentation was sent to all Board
members prior to the meeting. (LINK) Meeting presentation document -
Hillsborough County Greenways Master Plan_03_15_24__all.pdf.
c) Field Use Agreement Meeting – Update - Rick Valdez, Parks and Recreation
Department Director, reported receiving positive feedback from the community.
Bill Barrett, Board Vice-chair, District-5, agreed and gave accolades to the Parks
and Recreation Department.
d) Friends of the Parks - Status Update – Anthony Sanchez, Chair, District 6,
revisited the terminology used at the last meeting in reference to the Friends of
the Parks non-profit organization. Mr. Sanchez provided a summary of how both
Departments receive support from the organization and followed it with the
formal definition of the word “slush fund.” He explained why he disagreed with
how this word was used at the prior meeting by other Board members. Scott
Levinson, Board Member District 7, and Bill Barrett, vice-chair, District 5,
reiterated their disagreement with how, in their opinion, the Departments are
able to divert funds from the County general fund process and are approved to
use a non-profit organization to circumvent it and navigate funds back in.
Conversation ensued regarding the support received by the Friends of The Parks
non-profit organization, with agreement and disagreement among some of the
Board members. Peter Fowler, Friends of The Parks president, provided a
history of the funding support his organization has provided both departments.
Discussion then ensued among a few Board members and County staff regarding
concessionaires and associated revenue.


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e) Field Improvements - Discussion and Update – Rick Valdez, Parks and
Recreation Department Director – Report remains pending.

IV. NEXT MEETING DATE - 05-16-2024

V. BOARD ACTION
a) Approve 02-22-2024 meeting minutes. Jack Berlin, District 1, Board member,
made the first motioned to approve and Scott Levinson, District 7, Board
Member seconded the motion. All in favor with no objections.

VI. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS – Anthony Sanchez, Chair, District 6, reported the
resignation of Nathan Genarra , District 2, Board Member, effective April 3, 2024. Scott
Levinson, District 7, Board Member provided opinion of his personal appointment and
representation on this Board as a loud and proud representative for the community.

VII. COMMUNICATIONS, ACTIVITIES, OR STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: Ross Dickerson,
Conservation & Environmental Lands Management Division Manager, announced a
successful 2024 annual hiking spree event and stated that volunteers are still needed
for the approaching Publix Volunteer planting event at Pebble Park in Riverview.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT – Chairman adjourned meeting at 1:33 PM